Real: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	9	9	1	–	#3,055
1920s	–	84	84	8	+833%	#2,402
1930s	–	81	81	8	-4%	#2,150
1940s	–	50	50	5	-38%	#2,068
1950s	–	49	49	5	-2%	#3,153
1960s	–	21	21	2	-57%	#2,803
1970s	–	12	12	1	-43%	#4,146
1980s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1990s	5	–	5	1	–	–
2000s	12	24	36	4	+620%	#8,035
2010s	9	20	29	3	-19%	#10,514
2020s (to 2025)	–	45	45	8	+159%	#8,129

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#3,055

1920s

–

+833%

#2,402

1930s

–

-4%

#2,150

1940s

–

-38%

#2,068

1950s

–

-2%

#3,153

1960s

–

-57%

#2,803

1970s

–

-43%

#4,146

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

+620%

#8,035

2010s

-19%

#10,514

2020s (to 2025)

–

+159%

#8,129

The story of Real

Real is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1918, 421 American babies have been named Real, about 94% boys and 6% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2012, when 16 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Real stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Real?

The median living Real is about 32 years old; half are between 10 and 73. An estimated 200 people named Real are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Real year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	7	#10,680
2023	–	–	10	#8,129
2022	–	–	10	#8,173
2021	–	–	9	#8,680
2020	–	–	9	#8,579
2019	–	–	7	#10,567
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	6	#11,781
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	9	#12,029	7	#10,514
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	5	#14,036
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	5	#19,855	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	6	#10,572
2002	7	#13,306	–	–
2001	–	–	5	#11,911
2000	–	–	8	#8,035
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	7	#4,146
1965	–	–	5	#4,314
1960	–	–	6	#3,968
1955	–	–	8	#3,153
1950	–	–	7	#3,257
1945	–	–	5	#3,676
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	8	#2,896
1930	–	–	11	#2,569
1925	–	–	11	#2,711
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Real, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Real?

The median living Real is about 32 years old. Half of all living Reals are between 10 and 73 years old.

How many people named Real are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Real are alive in the United States, based on 421 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Real in 2025?

Real did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Real?

421 babies have been named Real in the United States since 1918, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Real most popular?

Real peaked in 2012, when 16 newborns received the name.

Is Real a boy or girl name?

Real is used for both: about 6% of babies named Real have been girls and 94% boys.

Is the name Real rising or falling?

Real is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Real

Real popularity over time

The story of Real

How old are people named Real?

Real year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Real